Closure



April 6, 1943. F. DITCHFIELD Y CLOSURE Filed Sept. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 6, 1943. F, DITCHFIELD CLOSURE Filed Sept. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 9 e( mp WK N w: F?

April 6, 1943.

F. DITCHFIELD 2,315,692

CLOSURE Filed Sept. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 CLOSURE Frank Ditchfield, Cleveland, Ohio,

The Youngstown Steel Door Company,

assignor to Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 2, 1939, Serial No. 293,263

9 Claims.

This invention relates to closures and is directed more particularly to closures which shall cooperate with closure frames to effectively seal the openings controlled by the closures.

The securement of an effective and enduring seal between openings and their closures has long been a vexatious and insoluble problem. This is particularly true in those instances where the closures are disposed horizontally or substantially so as in the case of less than carload freight containers, hopper cars, cement cars, etc. Insofar as applicant is aware previous efforts looking toward a solution of this problem have utilized metallic or non-metallic gaskets or packing which did not. long survive the exigencies of service and required frequent renewals. Thus, the provision of a reliable, indestructible and effective seal is of prime importance and great utility.

This invention has for its main object the provision of closures and the frames therefor wherein said closures and frames are constructed and associated as to secure effective weather seals by means which shall be simple and inexpensive, sturdy and durable, and which shall obviate gaskets or packing usually employed for this purpose.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a less than car load container provided with a charging opening and a closure therefor utilizing one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the section lines 33, 3 -3 and 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a less than car load container having a charging opening controlled by two closures utilizing the instant invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a partial side view showing the sealing construction at the meeting edges of the doors illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of the invention.

One embodiment of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings. The invention is shown in connection with a less than car load container. The invention is not particularly interested in the construction of the container and it will therefore suffice to point out that the container 10 is rectangular in horizontal section and embodies side walls ll-l l and end walls 12-42 all of which, as appears in Fig. 2 of the drawings, may be provided with horizontal corrugations l3 and I4 respectively. The side and end walls are connected together by means of angle posts [5 and are reinforced along their upper margins by means of angle members It and I1. Lifting hooks l8 are secured to the upper corners of the container.

The top of the container is formed of end sheets !9l9 and intermediate sheets 20-20 so arranged as to provide an opening 2! in the top of the container. Through this opening bulk materials such as dolomite, lime, cement and the like, may be loaded into the container and unloaded therefrom through discharge openings (not shown) located in the bottom of the container.

The opposed margins of the end sheets l9l9 are reinforced by means of angle members 22-22 secured to the underside of the marginal portions as by means of rivets 23. The ends of the reinforcing angle members 22 are secured to the side walls ll--H by means of angle clips 24-24 as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The opposed marginal portions of the intermediate sheets 20-40 are reinforced by means of angle members 25 which are secured to the underside of these marginal portions as by means of rivets 26. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the ends of the reinforcing angle members 25 are offset downwardly as indicated at 21 so as to extend beneath the reinforcing angle members 22. These ends are secured to the angle members 22 by certain of the rivets 23.

Closure frame 28 is secured to the top of the container around the opening formed therein. As illustrated, the frame is angular in cross section and is constructed preferably of a structural angle member. The frame may be formed of a single member bent to the proper shape, or it may be fabricated of a plurality of lengths properly secured together. One of the legs 29 of the closure frame extends horizontally and rests upon the top of the container so as to serve as the attaching leg for' the frame. The other leg 30 of the frame extends upwardly above the opening in the container.

A hinged closure 3| is employed to close the opening 2|. In the considered embodiment of the invention the closure is formed of sheet metal and is flanged downwardly as indicated at 32 around the upstanding leg 30 of the frame. Hinged means 33 fasten the closure to the top of the container. It is to be observed that the hinged butt 34 of the hinge i provided with an abutment 35 adapted to support the closure in open position.

In accordance with the instant invention a durable and effective seal for the opening is provided, To this end, an angle member 36 is secured as by means of rivets 31 to the upstanding leg 33 of the frame. The angle member 33 is so disposed that it presents a flange 33 projecting outwardly from the upstanding leg 39. The depending flange 32 of the closure 3! is similarly provided with an angle member 39 secured to the inner face thereof as by means of rivets 49 so as to present an inwardly extending flange 4!. As more clearly appears in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the angle member 33 and 39 are so related that their flanges 38 and H overlap when the closure is in closed position. It will be understood that the seal hereinabove described is utilized around the opening 2|.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an effective and durable seal is provided. Rain, cinders, or other foreign matter which may tend to drive into the container through the opening, are baffled by the outwardly projecting flange 33 of the sealing angle member 33. Any foreign matter which might pass this flange would encounter the inwardly projecting flange ll of the sealing angle 31 which serves as a baffle to exclude the entry of any foreign matter. Should any such matter flnd its way around the flange ll it would be trapped in the pocket formed by the upstanding leg 33 of the frame and the depending flange 32 of the closure. Moreover, the arrangement of the sealing angle members 39 and 39 presents a tortuous path, forcing repeated changes in direction of any foreign matter which may be blown against the These changes in direction are accompanied by material loss in speed so that the foreign matter will settle by its own weight before it can reach the top of the frame 28.

The angle member 36 and 39 are sturdy, it being preferred to employ rolled shapes as illustrated in the drawings. Hence, the life of these sealing members is prolonged.

The closure is securely clamped upon the frame .by means of swinging bolts 32. Any other desired fastening means may, however, be used for this purpose.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. to 8 inclusive, differs essentially from the first described embodiment by the employment of two hinged closures to close a larger opening provided in the top of the container. This opening 43 is reinforced by means of angle members 44 secured to the opposed margins of the end sheets 45 of the top of the container. The reinforcing angle members 453 are secured at their ends to the side walls of the container by means of angle clips 46. The opening 43 .is further reinforced by means of angle member 47 secured to the opposed marginal portions of the intermediate sheets 48, A frame 49 similar to the frame '28 is secured to the top of the container around the opening 43. As in the first described embodiment of the invention, the upstanding leg 51] of the frame 49 carries an angle sealing member 5! having an outwardly projecting flange 5.2.

Each of the closure members 53 and 54 is flanged downwardly along three sides as indicated at 55. This flange carries an angle sealing member 56 provided with an inwardly projecting flange 51 disposed in overlapping relationship with the outwardly projecting flange of the sealing member 5| The relationship of the sealing members 5| and 56 and their cooperation is the same as previously described in the consideration of the first embodiment of the invention.

At the meeting edges of the closures 53 and 54 a construction is provided which will effectively seal these edges. For this purpose the closure 53, which is the overlapped closure, has secured to the marginal portion thereof as by means of rivets 53 a sealing member 59 preferably in the form of a casting. This member embodies a flange 33 disposed upon the closure 53 and an upstanding flange 6 l. Projecting from the upstanding flange 3-! is a flange 62 which is disposed intermediate the upper and lower edges of the upstanding flange.

A sealing member 33 of substantially inverted channel section is formed with an attaching flange 63 by means of which the sealing member is secured to the marginal portion of the overlapping closure as by means of rivets '65. The channel portion 53 of the sealing member 63 is arranged so that it embraces the upstanding and projecting flanges 5i and 62 of the sealing memberiiii. In addition, the channel portion 66 carries a depending flange 5"! which is spaced from the upstanding flange 3i and overlies the projecting flange 52.

The sealing members 59 and 63 are turned downwardly at their ends so as to overlap the upstanding flange '59 of the frame 99. This construction is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, which, in connection with Fig. 6 of the drawings, will make it clear that the depending flange El of the channel portion 66 merges into the channel portion as indicated at 63 while the channel portion itself continues to the end of the sealing member. Similarly, the vertical and projecting flanges 3i and 62 of the sealing member 59 continue to the ends .of the member as more clearly appears in Fig. 8 of the drawings. In addition, the sealing member 59 is flanged adjacent each end indicated at 69 so as to provide baffles. The flanges 69 at each end of the sealing member 59 are so arranged that they overlap the sealing angle 5| as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, thereby cooperating with said angle to aid in excluding rain, cinders and the like from the container.

Hinged means for the closures are indicated at 70 and fastening means 42 for the closures are utilized. Supports H are employed to maintain the closures in open position.

It will thus be seen that the two closures are effectively sealed not only in their relationship to the frame but as well along the meeting edges of the closures. In both instances, the sealing means are sturdy and durable members. Their utilization obviates the need for packing or gasket devices.

The embodiment of the invention'illustratedin Fig. 9 of the drawings embodies a cast frame 1 2 and a cast closure 73. The disposition of the frame 12 is the same as that described in connection with the first two embodiments of the invention. The upstanding leg 74 of the frame is formed with an outwardly projecting flange "T5 with which an internal shoulder 16 and the depending closure flange H are associated to effectively prevent the ingress of water, cinders, and the like.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear .to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes .be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a freight container having an opening therein, a frame secured to said container and having a leg extending around said opening, a flange projecting outwardly from said leg intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and extending around said opening, and a hinged closure for said opening, said closure having a depending flange extending around said opening outwardly of and terminating below said projecting flange.

2. In a freight container having an opening therein, a frame secured to said container and having a leg extending around said opening, a

flange projecting outwardly from said leg intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and extending around said opening, and a hinged closure for said opening, said closure having a depending flange extending around said opening outwardly of said outwardly projecting flange, said depending flange having a flange extending around said opening and projecting inwardly into overlapping relationship with said outwardly projecting flange.

3. In a freight container having an opening therein, a frame secured to said container and having a leg extending around said opening, a flange projecting outwardly from said leg intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and extending around said opening, and a hinged closure for said opening, said closure having a depending flange extending around said opening outwardly of and terminating below said projecting flange, said depending flange having a flange extending around said opening and projecting inwardly and overlapping said outwardly projecting flange.

4. In a freight container having an opening therein, a frame secured to said container and having a leg extending around said opening, an angle member secured around the outer face of said leg intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof so that a flange projects from said leg, a hinged closure for said opening having a depending flange extending around said opening outwardly of said projecting flange, an angle member secured around the inner face of said depending flange so that a flange projects inwardly into overlapping relationship with said flange of said first mentioned angle member.

5. In a bulk material freight container having a top provided with an opening through which material is loaded into said container, a frame secured to said top having an upstanding leg extending around said opening, a pair of hinged closures for said opening, cooperating sealing means on said upstanding leg and said closures, and means for sealing the meeting edges of said closures, comprising overlapping members secured to said edges, the overlapped member having an upstanding flange and a flange projecting therefrom intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the overlapping member embodying a downwardly opening substantially channel shaped portion embracing said flanges of said overlapped member.

6. In a bulk material freight container having a top provided with an opening through which material is loaded into said container, a frame secured to said top having an upstanding leg extending around said opening, a pair of hinged closures for said opening, cooperating sealing means on said upstanding leg and said closures, and means for sealing the meeting edges of said closures, comprising overlapping members secured to said edges, the overlapped member having an upstanding flange and a flange projecting therefrom intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the overlapping member embodying a downwardly opening substantially channel shaped portion embracing said flanges of said overlapped member and a depending flange lying above said projecting flange and spaced from said upstanding flange.

7. In a bulk material freight container having a top provided with an opening through which material is loaded into said container, a frame secured to said top having an upstanding leg extending around said opening, a pair of hinged closures for said opening, cooperating sealing means on said upstanding leg and said closures, and means for sealing the meeting edges of said closures, comprising overlapping members secured to said edges, the overlapped member having an upstanding flange and a flange projecting therefrom intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the overlapping member embodying a downwardly opening substantially channel shaped portion embracing said flanges of said overlapped member, the end portions of said completely overlapping member being turned down wardly to overlap the upstanding leg of said frame.

8. In a bulk material freight container having a top provided with an opening through which material is loaded into said container, a frame secured to said top having an upstanding leg extending around said opening, a pair of hinged closures for said opening, cooperating sealing means on said upstanding leg and said closures, and means for sealing the meeting edges of said closures, comprising overlapping members secured to said edges, the overlapped member having an upstanding flange and a flange projecting therefrom intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the overlapping member embodying a downwardly opening substantially channel shaped portion embracing said flanges of said overlapped member, the end portions of said overlapping member being turned downwardly to overlap the upstanding leg of said frame, said end portions of said overlapped member being provided with substantially horizontal baffle flanges.

9. In a bulk material freight container having a top provided with an opening through which material is loaded into said container, a frame secured to said top having an upstanding leg extending around said opening, a pair of hinged closures for said opening, cooperating sealing means on said upstanding leg and said closures, and means for sealing the meeting edges of said closures, comprising overlapping members secured to said edges, the overlapped member having an upstanding flange and a flange projecting therefrom intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the overlapping member embodying a downwardly opening substantially channel shaped lpOItiOIl embracing said flanges of said overlapped member, the end portions of said overlapping member being turned downwardly to overlap the upstanding leg of said frame, said end portions of said overlapped member being provided with substantially horizontal baffle flanges, said baiile flanges overlapping the sealing means secured to the upstanding leg of said frame.

FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

